If you are researching where to go in Italy, without a doubt you are finding gorgeous, vibrant photos of Italy’s top destinations. Would you like to know how to get these same gorgeous views of Italy?
In this post, find out how to get a birdโs eye view over Venice, where to get one of the best views of the Dolomites, and where to snap the best photos of the Cinque Terre. All of these spots are easy to get to and no special camera equipment is required. And whether or not you just want to take in a beautiful view or capture the moment forever in a photograph, these are very simple spots to add into your tour of Italy.
Best Views of Italy
Overlooking Rome from St. Peterโs Basilica
For this iconic view over St. Markโs Square and Rome, climb the dome of St. Peterโs Basilica.
Where: The Dome of St. Peterโs Basilica
How To Do It: Climb 551 steps to the top for โฌ6 or take an elevator to the terrace and then climb 320 steps to the top for โฌ8
The Photographerโs Guide: 20 Iconic Views of Rome
Where to get the best view of Rome (and how to photograph them).The Colors of Vernazza
This view of Vernazza is one of the most photographed and gorgeous spots on the Cinque Terre. Getting here requires a short walk on the hiking trail but itโs worth itโฆthis still remains one of my favorite photos of Italy.
Where: From the Cinque Terre hiking trail, GPS coordinates: 44.136594, 9.681343
How To Do It: From the harbor of Vernazza, walk past Chiesa di Santa Margherita to hiking trail. Roughly 200 meters down this trail, in the direction of Monterosso, is an overlook where you can get this same view.
Hiking the Cinque Terre: What You Need to Know
Everything you need to hike the Cinque Terre.The Florence Cathedral
There are a LOT of places in Florence where you can get a stunning view of the Florence Cathedral (the Duomo). Our favorite view is from the top of the Arnolfo Tower, which is located on Palazzo Vecchio.
Where: Arnolfo Tower, Palazzo Vecchio
How to Do It: Palazzo Vecchio is located on Piazza della Signoria. Pay the entrance fee and climb the stairs to the top of the tower. Get pricing and hours on the official website.
12 Gorgeous Views of Florence (+ Photos, Map & HELPFUL Tips)
Exactly where to get the best views of Florence.The Grand Canal of Venice
You can get some of the best views of Venice from the small bridges that criss cross over the canals. But my favorite view of Venice is here, on Ponte dellโAccademia, overlooking the Grand Canal.
Where: Ponte dellโAccademia
How To Do It: Simply walk to the top of the bridge to get this view of Venice. Midday, this can be a very crowded spot, but in our experience, at twilight it is surprisingly quiet and uncrowded.
12 Beautiful Views of Venice (Map, Helpful Tips & Photos)
12 viewpoints of Venice, plus a map and tips on how to take the same photos.The Dolomites
The Dolomites don’t usually make it onto the must-see list for most travelers to Italy, especially if this is your first time in Italy. But what if I told you that you could have this view with just a tiny bit of hiking?
Simply hop on a cable car, walk a half mile, and enjoy this jaw dropping view of the Dolomites. If you are looking to add some adventure to your Italian holiday, hike the entire Puez-Odle Altopiano for a truly memorable experience.
Where: On the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail near Selva di Val Gardena, GPS Coordinates: 46ยฐ33’27” N 11ยฐ48’47” E
How To Do It: From the town of Selva di Val Gardena, take the Dantercepies gondola up into the mountains (already the views are amazing!). From the gondola, walk east on the wide, gravel trail until you get to Rifugio Jimmy. From here, take trail No. 2 up into the mountains. You will have to hike up a rocky trail for 500 feet to get this view. If you are willing to go a little higher, the view gets even better.
Best Things to Do in the Dolomites (With Little to No Hiking)
Here are the top things to do in the Dolomites, no big, long hikes necessary.Beautiful Bellagio
Called the Pearl of Lake Como, this lakeside town is one of Italyโs prettiest places to visit. Stroll the photogenic streets and enjoy the gorgeous views of Lake Como.
Where: Lake Como
How to Do It: It is easy to visit Bellagio on a day trip of Lake Como, whether you are staying in Milan, Como, or Lugano. There are photography spots throughout town but one of the best is from the viewpoint at the intersection of Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and Salita Serbelloni.
8 Amazing Things to Do in Bellagio, Italy
Best things to do in Bellagio plus what you need to know to plan a visit here.Overlooking Tuscany
The town of San Gimignano in Tuscany is famous for its fifteen medieval towers. From the top of Torri dei Salvucci, one of these towers, overlook the rolling hills of Tuscany and the stone buildings of San Gimignano.
Where: Torri dei Salvucci, San Gimignano
How To Do It: Torri dei Salvucci is located on Piazza delle Erbe. This tower is actually a B&B property in San Gimignano. When it is not rented, visitors can climb to the tower to the top for one of the best views of San Gimignano.
San Gimignano: Best Things to Do & Photo Tour
Photo tour of San Gimignano and a list of the best things to do.Sunset Views of Matera
Matera is one of the most photogenic cities in Italy. One of the best things to do in Matera is to wander the city streets and visit the viewpoints of the stone dwellings and churches that cover its hillsides.
Matera is beautiful all day long but at night this city really sparkles.
Where: The sunset photo above was taken from the terrace that sits on top of the Church of San Pietro Barisano. From this spot, you get amazing sunset views of Matera (this is our favorite view of Matera). Here are the GPS coordinates: 40ยฐ40โ07.7โณN 16ยฐ36โ33.3โณE
How to Do It: Get to this spot about 30 minutes before sunset to get set up with your tripod.
15 Amazing Views of Matera (+Map, Photos & HELPFUL Tips)
Where to get the best views of Matera, from viewpoints of the city to rooftop cocktail bars.Lovely Lago di Braies
Lago di Braies is one of the most picturesque lakes in the Dolomites. Rent a rowboat and paddle around the lake, walk the short, easy trail that makes a loop around the lake, and photograph the rowboats.
Where: Lago di Braies, Dolomites
How to Do It: For the best experience, get here before 9 am, before the crowds arrive. You also have the option to rent a boat early in the morning for a sunrise photo session. Lago di Braies is best visited on a sunny day, when the sunlight brings out the colors of the lake.
Positano from the Mediterranean Sea
If you want a unique view of Positano, see it from the Mediterranean Sea. We rented kayaks for an hour, the perfect way to cool off in the hot summer weather and get this stunning view of Positano. If you donโt feel like kayaking, you can get a similar view from the ferries that cruise up and down the coast.
Where: Positano, GPS Coordinates: 40ยฐ37’35” N 14ยฐ29’13” E
How To Do It: We rented kayaks right on the beach in Positano for a price of โฌ30 (2 kayaks for one hour). Enjoy paddling along the coastline!
Top 10 Things to Do in Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Things to do and how to plan a trip to Positano.The Trulli of Alberobello
Alberobello is is famous for its trulli, small round buildings with conical roofs made of stone. Stroll the hilly maze of streets, shop for souvenirs, enjoy the view across the rooftop terraces, and fill your cameraโs memory card with photos of this enchanting town
Where: Alberobello, Puglia
How to Do It: From rooftop terraces to the maze of city streets, there are a lot of great photo spots in Alberobello. One of our favorites is on Via Monte S. Michele near Ristorante LโAratro di Domenico Laera.
15 Amazing Things to Do in Alberobello (With Photos & Helpful Tips)
Best things to do in Alberobello, where to stay, and how to plan your time (plus LOTS of photos!!).
Rome at Sunset
For one of the best sunset views of Rome, put Oro Bistrot on your list. This rooftop bar and restaurant overlooks the Trajan Forum and the Altar of the Fatherland. Itโs one of our favorite viewpoints of Rome.
Where: Oro Bistrot, Rome
How to Do It: Make a reservation for the rooftop bar and/or rooftop terrace about an hour before sunset. We did this in September and had a 6 pm reservation for the cocktail lounge and a 7 pm reservation for the restaurant. To watch the sunset from this spot was magical.
7 Best Rooftop Bars in Rome with Amazing Sunset Views
The top rooftop bars in Rome, with photos from each of them.The Amalfi Coast
As you journey down the Amalfi Coast, you will be treated to numerous views of the stunning coastline. This photo was taken on the drive between Positano and Amalfi.
Where: On Amalfi Drive in Conca dei Marini, GPS Coordinates: 40.616960, 14.575165
How To Do It: I snapped this photo while on the bus between Positano and Amalfi. This part of the road is very narrow with very few pull-offs for cars. If you have a car, you may be able to park at Hotel Le Terazze and walk the short distance to this viewpoint.
17 Beautiful Towns on the Amalfi Coast (+Map & Photos)
Photos of the towns along the Amalfi Coast, plus how to include them on your trip to Italy.A Birdโs Eye View of Siena
For the best view of Siena, climb to the top of Torre del Mangia. This is the tall, skinny tower that sits on Palazzo Pubblico. From this viewpoint, not only do you get panoramic views of Siena but you also look out over the rolling hills of Tuscany.
Where: Torre del Mangia, Siena
How to Do It: Youโll have to climb over 400 steps to the top of the tower (there is no elevator). Itโs one of the biggest tower climbs listed in this guide but it is well worth it for the incredible views.
Top 10 Things to Do in Siena, Italy
Best things to do in Siena, plus where to stay, where to eat, and how to plan your time.Seceda
From the summit of Seceda, you can look out across the jagged, slanting pinnacles, making this one of the most famous viewpoints of the Dolomites.
Where: Seceda summit, Dolomites
How to Do It: Ride the cable car from Ortisei to Seceda. From the mountain station, it is 10-minute uphill walk to the Seceda viewpoint.
Best Way to Visit Seceda (with Little to No Hiking)
Exactly how to get the iconic view of Seceda.Castelmezzano
Castelmezzano is a small, colorful, hilltop town in Basilicata, Italy. It has been called one of the prettiest villages in Italy and we have to agree. The townโs hilltop setting and backdrop of Dolomite spires make this one of the most unique towns to visit in Italy.
What makes it even more exciting is that you can zipline from Castelmezzano to the nearby town of Pietrapertosa. Itโs one of southern Italyโs most thrilling experiences.
Where: Basilicata
How to Do It: The photo above was taken at Terrazza Panoramica at Piazza Emilio Caizzo in Castelmezzano. If youโre up for the zipline, you get more amazing views of the area.
Castelmezzano & Pietrapertosa: Zipline & The Best Things to Do
How to visit Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa and do the Angel’s Flight zipline.A Birdโs Eye View of Venice
From the top of the Campanile you can have this panoramic view of Venice. An elevator whisks you to the top, so climbing stairs is not necessary.
Where: St. Markโs Campanile
How To Do It: For โฌ10, take the elevator to the top of the Campanile.
Venice Bucket List: 20 Amazing Things to Do in Venice, Italy
Best things to do in Venice, including how to visit the Campanile for one of the best view’s of Venice.Watch the Sunset in Florence
Itโs a magical experience to watch the sunset over Florence and the best spot to do so is at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Where: Piazzale Michelangelo
How To Do It: To get here itโs just a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio. We stopped at a market on the way and made a picnic dinner, which we ate as we watched the sunset. To get these sunset photos, we spent about an hour and a half here.
Best Rooftop Bars in Florence with a View of the Duomo
For more magical evening views of Florence, visit one of the city’s top rooftop bars.Sea Stacks in Puglia
With its stacks of limestone pillars, coves, and arches,Torre SantโAndrea is one of the prettiest places to visit in Puglia.
Where: Torre SantโAndrea, Puglia
How to Do It: Park at Parcheggio dei Faraglioni and pay the small fee using the automated parking machine. From here, it is a one to two-minute walk to the best views of Torre SantโAndrea. If you are here only to take photos, a visit will last 30 to 60 minutes. If you plan to go swimming, plan on spending a few hours here.
15 Beautiful Places to Visit in Puglia, Italy
Beautiful towns, cities, and coastlines to visit in Puglia, Italy.If you want to learn more about travel photography, check out our Photography page. Learn how to take better photos while traveling, find out what photography gear we use, and get inspired with photos from around the world.
More Information about Italy
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, Sicily, and Puglia.
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